Non-existent cauliflowers

[Shadylane]

So I grew some caulies earlier this year with some surprising success - got some half decent heads despite doing hardly any watering and expecting them to be tiny.

Sowed some later for an autumn crop and while two seem to be doing ok three have opened and there is nowt there. I don't know if all varieties do this but the one I'm growing (all the year round) has it's leaves wrapped around the curd, which then open up when it's ready. Well the leaves have all opened and there's is nothing there whatsoever.

I asked a veteran down t'lotment and he said it was 'an insect which attacks at the point of growth'. 'Cabbage root fly?' I asked, 'no' said he but he couldn't remember what. Anyone any ideas?

[Snadger]

Some caulis go 'blind' for no reason. They aren't an easy crop to grow, being quite fickle. The type you are growing are well named (All Year Round) as they can overwinter and produce curds in the spring!

All Year Round are an open pollinated type I think. If you want consistency you may have to go for an F1 variety.

[Shadylane]

Cheers Snadger. So there's a name for it. Oh well, win some lose some I s'pose.